Richard Rohr writes in his daily devotional: "Christians prefer to hear something Jesus never said: "Worship me." Worship of Jesus is rather harmless and risk free; following Jesus changes everything."
I was completely blown away by the truth of this sentence. I think most people enjoy worship. We feel good about ourselves. We enjoy the group of people we are with. We hear, see and experience something that helps us feel recharged and better about facing the next week. Sometimes its the comfort of the ritual. Sometimes its the message of love and grace. Sometimes its the singing. Whatever connects to that person individually, Sunday morning worship is a gratifying experience.
Richard Rohr continues saying:
"I have often thought that this "non-preaching" of the Gospel was like a secret social contract between clergy and laity as we shake hands across the sanctuary. We agree not to tell you anything that would make you feel uncomfortable and you will keep coming to our services.....The discernment and call to a life of service, to a life that gives itself away instead of simply protecting and procuring in the name of Jesus, is what a church should be about. Right now, so much church is the clergy teaching the people how to become co-dependent with them. It becomes job security instead of true spiritual empowerment."
While I would not say that this is true about my specific church, I would agree that it is the feel of the American christian church. This idea of worshipping Jesus in corporate fashion (sponsored on the basis of those who attend) cannot help but involve some question of "what does my church want to hear, what add-ons (coffee, donuts, childcare, summer camps, social events, etc) will incentivize more people to come, what comforts do the people need to make this a priority in their weekend, when we are competing with sleep, sports, TV and a million other activities. As church has become another form of entertainment or at least a feel-good activity, the co-dependent relationship becomes a fundamental element of a church's priority. Does the bible make you feel uncomfortable, well, we don't have to read from that. Do sermons seem to drag on too long, we can shorten those up for you. Not exciting enough? We can renovate our space for bigger stages, more lights, better speakers and large glowing screens with streaming graphics and videos. Church becomes more like a concert or movie theater and less of a place that challenges you to live a life of sacrifice and submission.
But following Jesus.....wow. This is a call to complete dependence, not co-dependence. We bring nothing and look to Him for everything. We give up our false impression of control and depend on Him for setting our direction. His call dictates our actions. And He may call us to somewhere we don't want to go. He may speak to us things we don't want to hear. He may lead us places that make us uncomfortable. Following is the ultimate form of self-sacrifice. Once we have given up all control to Him, He can call us into those places where He will use us for His glory. In this place, it isn't about our comfort. It isn't about earthly success. It isn't about things that feed my pride and sense of self worth.
My son once said, "I'm not sure what that sin (referring to adultery) means, but I think I can avoid it by following Jesus. Jesus will never lead me to sin." He was probably 9 or 10 at the time but was able to translate the gospel into the simplest truth. Jesus will never lead me to sin. I don't need to be dependent on my own wisdom, I just need to follow. I don't need a list of do's and don'ts, I just need to follow. I don't need to see the bigger picture or understand my place in the grand design, I just need to follow.
Everything in our world tells us to avoid this type of dependence at all costs. Be your own person. No one can tell you who to be or what to do. Claim your own truth. Do what makes you happy. Take care of number one. The only person you can trust is yourself.
And yet, people end up in unhappy marriages, addicted to substances, working their lives away in jobs they don't like to buy things they don't need. The whole model of being a self-made person is lonely, empty and accumulates things that can be taken from you.
Jesus' model sets out to free us from ourselves - to free us from the lie that all we need is that next accomplishment, possession or relationship.
Worship is easy.
Following is simple, but not easy.
